Smart payment technology is becoming
increasingly popular in the region with utilities seeking to
implement revenue protection measures as well as to help consumers to
better manage their electricity consumption.

Itron recently announced the signing of
three major contracts with the Indonesian state-owned electricity
utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to supply 800,000
keypad smart payment residential meters to the Java Bali
region.

PLN's objective is to provide almost
all new electricity connections with keypad meters and to replace old
residential meters progressively.

"We prefer to use keypad smart
payment meters, as they improve the efficiency of our existing
postpaid billing and collection process as well as allowing the full
optimization of our human resources by utilizing the services of our
meter readers in other areas," said Ngurah Adnyana, PLN director
operation of Java Bali.

In Sarawak, Sarawak Energy Berhad has
just started a prepayment pilot project involving 1000 meters while
in the Philippines, Manila Electric is planning for the rollout of
prepaid meters in five years.

Meralco Senior Vice-President and head
of customer retail services Alfredo S. Panlilio told reporters the
company will soon pilot-test
prepaid metering "to make sure there is a compelling value
proposition for customers."

"We're undergoing tests and we're
talking [to] potential partners that can give us the capability to do
it. Obviously, prepaid metering relies on 'Smart Meters,' which we
cannot yet bring to the entire customer base," said Mr.
Panlilio. The utility is still identifying which customers will be
covered and where prepaid metering will be viable

Prepayment meters will be a key
focus during the 6th annual Metering
Asia 2011 conference and exhibition which will be hosted by PT
Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN). The event will take place from 11-12
May 2011 in Bali, Indonesia.